January 26, 2009Morales victorious as Bolivians approve new consitution

Bolivians line up to vote in the constitutional referendum.

In Latin America, voters in Bolivia have approved a new constitution, and with it, says the leftist president Evo Morales, Bolivians have “begun to reach true equality.”

A centerpiece of the new constitution is increased rights for Bolivia’s 3 million indigenous people, who constitute a majority. The new constitution also calls for redistribution of land and allows President Morales to run for a second five-year term.

As the constitution was drafted, there were violent clashes between supporters and opponents of the government.